What Happened to Tonya Harding
Tonya Harding, born on November 12, 1970, in Portland, Oregon, is a former figure skater whose career is marked by both remarkable achievements and significant controversy. She gained fame as the first American woman to successfully land a triple axel in competition, a feat she accomplished during the 1991 U.S. Championships. Harding's skating prowess led her to win the U.S. National Championships in 1991 and 1994, as well as a silver medal at the 1991 World Championships. She competed in the Winter Olympics in 1992 and 1994, showcasing her talent on an international stage.
However, Harding's career took a dramatic turn in January 1994 when her ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, orchestrated an attack on her rival Nancy Kerrigan. The attack involved Kerrigan being struck in the knee by an assailant hired by Gillooly to incapacitate her before the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. This incident led to a media frenzy and public outrage, overshadowing Harding's achievements in figure skating.
At the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Harding finished eighth after facing multiple challenges during her performance, including a broken skate lace. Following the games, investigations revealed her involvement in the conspiracy surrounding the attack on Kerrigan. Although Harding was never convicted of directly participating in the attack, she pleaded guilty to conspiring to hinder prosecution and was subsequently banned for life from competitive figure skating by the U.S. Figure Skating Association (USFSA) and stripped of her national title.
After her figure skating career ended, Harding transitioned to professional boxing from 2003 to 2004, where she recorded three wins and three losses. Her life story has been depicted in various media, including documentaries and the film I, Tonya, which explored both her rise in figure skating and the scandal that defined her career.
As of January 2025, Tonya Harding resides in Vancouver, Washington, with her third husband and their son. She remains a controversial figure in sports history, often discussed in the context of both her athletic achievements and the infamous events that led to her downfall in figure skating.
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